A ball is born
At the Edinburgh Fringe’s Espionage, a solo-show room became something more unruly. The intended Hater’s Ball name gave way to Hate ’N’ Live after comedian Jonathan Hearne suggested an affectionate nod to Edinburgh’s Late ’n’ Live.
Submit a topicHATE ’N’ LIVE PRESENTS
TWELVE YEARS
OF GLORIOUS
BAD ATTITUDE.
Before The Haters’ Ball had a tuxedo, live audience tech or a trophy cabinet, it had four comedians, a bucket of topics and a room at the Edinburgh Fringe.
ABOUT THE SHOW
A cult comedy format, rebuilt in public.
The Haters’ Ball is the award-winning, audience-controlled live roast comedy show where four comedians compete by roasting whatever topics the audience submits.
It began as Hate ’N’ Live in 2014. The name now carries the show’s heritage and production identity; The Haters’ Ball is the show audiences see today.
“Four comedians. Your topics. Nothing is safe.”
THE EVOLUTIONSame appetite.
Same appetite.
Sharper teeth.
Not every year needs a plaque. These are the turns that changed the show.
Write fast. Roast later.
Four comedians performed stand-up, pulled an audience topic from a bucket and disappeared to write roughly five new minutes while the others kept the show moving. Darius Davies and Leo Kearse were central to the early experiment.
The game takes shape
At Sin, Maggie’s Chamber and the Counting House Ballroom, the writing challenge evolved towards a faster improvised competition. New rounds appeared, the Hate Off developed and late-night Fringe audiences became part of the machinery.
Bigger rooms, further afield
Hate ’N’ Live graduated to Just the Tonic’s Big Cave. The format also travelled to Perth and Adelaide as The Great British Hate Off, a clearer name away from Edinburgh’s Late ’n’ Live reference. After the pandemic, the live show returned in 2022; 2023 was its final Fringe under the Hate ’N’ Live name.
Developed for television
During the live-show pause, Hate ’N’ Live was developed for television with Gold Dust Films as a proposed six-part entertainment format. It remained development work, not a broadcaster commission.
The Haters’ Ball
The tenth annual edition returned to the name at the heart of the original idea. By 2026, The Haters’ Ball had become a fully audience-controlled four-comedian contest with a tuxedoed host, live submissions and an increasingly elaborate show system.
Awards, applause
and one very famous review.
Edinburgh LAUGHIES
Best Late Night Comedy Show
Chortle Award
Best Format Show at the Edinburgh Fringe
“A great idea for a show, brutally funny… absolutely brilliant”
The Scotsman
“The most fun I've ever had compacted into one hour”
Gerard Butler
The Fringe is part of the format.
Follow the show from its first Edinburgh room to the finished 2026 run.
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